The refined crystal structure of Drosophila lebanonensis alcohol dehydrogenase at 1.9 A resolution

Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase Kmy13 Mediates Formation of the Carbocyclic ansa System during Kendomycin B Biosynthesis

Kendomycin B is distinguished from other ansamycins by its unique, fully carbogenic ansa scaffold. We show here that FAD-dependent monooxygenase Kmy13 is solely responsible for installing the rare ansa structural framework; in vivo gene disruption/complementation experiments and in vitro enzymatic assays are described in detail. Moreover, the compound with a β-keto ester, kendolactone A (2), was confirmed as the natural substrate of Kmy13 and a bona fide biosynthetic intermediate en route to kendomycin B. Further structural prediction and biochemical assays have provided significant insights into the catalytic mechanism of Kmy13.

Employing deuterium kinetic isotope effects to uncover the mechanism of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) form a large enzyme superfamily playing important roles in health and disease. Furthermore, they are useful tools in biocatalysis. Unveiling the nature of the transition state for hydride transfer is a crucial undertaking toward defining the physicochemical underpinnings of catalysis by SDR enzymes, including possible contributions from quantum mechanical tunneling. Primary deuterium kinetic isotope effects can uncover the contribution from chemistry to the rate-limiting step and potentially provide detailed information on the hydride-transfer transition state in SDR-catalyzed reactions. For the latter, however, one needs to determine the intrinsic isotope effect: that which would be measured if hydride transfer were rate determining. Alas, as is the case for many other enzymatic reactions, those catalyzed by SDRs are often limited by the rate of isotope-insensitive steps, such as product release and conformational changes, which masks the expression of the intrinsic isotope effect. This can be overcome by the powerful yet underexplored method of Palfey and Fagan via which intrinsic kinetic isotope effects can be extracted from pre-steady-state kinetics data. SDRs are ideal systems to which this method can be applied. We have employed this approach to elucidate the transition states for hydride transfer catalyzed by NADH-dependent cold- and warm-adapted (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. Experimental conditions which simplify the analysis are discussed.

Expanding the phenotypic spectrum in RDH12-associated retinal disease

Retinol dehydrogenase 12, RDH12, plays a pivotal role in the visual cycle to ensure the maintenance of normal vision. Alterations in activity of this protein result in photoreceptor death and decreased vision beginning at an early age and progressing to substantial vision loss later in life. Here we describe 11 patients with retinal degeneration that underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) with a targeted panel of all currently known inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) genes and whole-exome sequencing to identify the genetic causality of their retinal disease. These patients display a range of phenotypic severity prompting clinical diagnoses of macular dystrophy, cone-rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, and early-onset severe retinal dystrophy all attributed to biallelic recessive mutations in RDH12. We report 15 causal alleles and expand the repertoire of known RDH12 mutations with four novel variants: c.215A > G (p.Asp72Gly); c.362T > C (p.Ile121Thr); c.440A > C (p.Asn147Thr); and c.697G > A (p.Val233Ille). The broad phenotypic spectrum observed with biallelic RDH12 mutations has been observed in other genetic forms of IRDs, but the diversity is particularly notable here given the prior association of RDH12 primarily with severe early-onset disease. This breadth emphasizes the importance of broad genetic testing for inherited retinal disorders and extends the pool of individuals who may benefit from imminent gene-targeted therapies.

Structure-guided design of Serratia marcescens short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase for stereoselective synthesis of (R)-phenylephrine

Bioconversion is useful to produce optically pure enantiomers in the pharmaceutical industry, thereby avoiding problems with side reactions during organic synthesis processes. A short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase from Serratia marcescens BCRC 10948 (SmSDR) can stereoselectively convert 1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino) ethanone (HPMAE) into (R)-phenylephrine [(R)-PE], which is marketed medically as a nasal decongestant agent. The whole-cell conversion process for the synthesis of (R)-PE using SmSDR was reported to have an unexpectedly low conversion rate. We reported the crystal structure of the SmSDR and designed profitable variants to improve the enzymatic activity by structure-guided approach. Several important residues in the structure were observed to form hydrophobic clusters that stabilize the mobile loops surrounding the pocket. Of these, Phe98 and Phe202 face toward each other and connect the upper curvature from the two arms (i.e., the α7 helix and loopβ4-α4). The mutant structure of the double substitutions (F98YF202Y) exhibited a hydrogen bond between the curvatures that stabilizes the flexible arms. Site-directed mutagenesis characterization revealed that the mutations (F98Y, F98YF202Y, and F98YF202L) of the flexible loops that stabilize the region exhibited a higher transformation activity toward HPMAE. Together, our results suggest a robust structure-guided approach that can be used to generate a valuable engineered variant for pharmaceutical applications.

Effect of Zn2+ on halohydrin dehalogenase expression and accumulation through multi-parameter correlation research with Escherichia coli P84A/MC1061

Using 5 Zn²⁺ supplementation strategies in a 50 L batch bioreactor named FUS-50L(A), possible correlations among Zn²⁺ content and addition timing, physiologic activity (PA), halohydrin dehalogenase (HheC) accumulation of Escherichia coli P84A/MC1061 were systematically investigated. First, Zn²⁺ was confirmed as the significant factor, and its optimal concentration for HheC expression was 3.87 mg/L through fermentation experiments in shaking flasks. Second, based on experimental results from the different strategies, it was found that PA, nutrient consumption rate (NCR) and specific growth rate (μ) for E. coli P84A/MC1061 were promoted in the log phase (4-8 h) under appropriate Zn²⁺ concentrations in the lag phase and late log phase. Furthermore cell biomass was also increased to a higher level and the maximum HheC activity (i.e. HheC_max) was increased by 9.80%, and the time to reach HheC_max was reduced from 16 to 12 hours. Furthermore, appropriate supplementation of Zn²⁺ caused higher μ for E. coli P84A/MC1061, which resulted in more rapid accumulation of increased acetic acid concentrations, leading to higher acetic acid consumption avoiding any negative effects on producing HheC because of carbon source being exhausted prematurely and acetic acid being consumed rapidly.

Structural Insights into the Drosophila melanogaster Retinol Dehydrogenase, a Member of the Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Family

The 11-cis-retinylidene chromophore of visual pigments isomerizes upon interaction with a photon, initiating a downstream cascade of signaling events that ultimately lead to visual perception. 11-cis-Retinylidene is regenerated through enzymatic transformations collectively called the visual cycle. The first and rate-limiting enzymatic reaction within this cycle, i.e., the reduction of all-trans-retinal to all-trans-retinol, is catalyzed by retinol dehydrogenases. Here, we determined the structure of Drosophila melanogaster photoreceptor retinol dehydrogenase (PDH) isoform C that belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family. This is the first reported structure of a SDR that possesses this biologically important activity. Two crystal structures of the same enzyme grown under different conditions revealed a novel conformational change of the NAD⁺ cofactor, likely representing a change during catalysis. Amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange of PDH demonstrated changes in the structure of the enzyme upon dinucleotide binding. In D. melanogaster, loss of PDH activity leads to photoreceptor degeneration that can be partially rescued by transgenic expression of human RDH12. Based on the structure of PDH, we analyzed mutations causing Leber congenital amaurosis 13 in a homology model of human RDH12 to obtain insights into the molecular basis of RDH12 disease-causing mutations.

Characterization of Lipoyl Synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The prevalence of multiple and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, is on the rise, necessitating the identification of new targets to combat an organism that has infected one-third of the world's population, according to the World Health Organization. The biosynthesis of the lipoyl cofactor is one possible target, given its critical importance in cellular metabolism and the apparent lack of functional salvage pathways in Mtb that are found in humans and many other organisms. The lipoyl cofactor is synthesized de novo in two committed steps, involving the LipB-catalyzed transfer of an octanoyl chain derived from fatty acid biosynthesis to a lipoyl carrier protein and the LipA-catalyzed insertion of sulfur atoms at C6 and C8 of the octanoyl chain. A number of in vitro studies of lipoyl synthases from Escherichia coli, Sulfolobus solfataricus, and Thermosynechococcus elongatus have been conducted, but the enzyme from Mtb has not been characterized. Herein, we show that LipA from Mtb contains two [4Fe-4S] clusters and converts an octanoyl peptide substrate to the corresponding lipoyl peptide product via the same C6-monothiolated intermediate as that observed in the E. coli LipA reaction. In addition, we show that LipA from Mtb forms a complex with the H protein of the glycine cleavage system and that the strength of association is dependent on the presence of S-adenosyl-l-methionine. We also show that LipA from Mtb can complement a lipA mutant of E. coli, demonstrating the commonalities of the two enzymes. Lastly, we show that the substrate for LipA, which normally acts on a post-translationally modified protein, can be reduced to carboxybenzyl-octanoyllysine.

Functional mechanism of C-terminal tail in the enzymatic role of porcine testicular carbonyl reductase: a combined experiment and molecular dynamics simulation study of the C-terminal tail in the enzymatic role of PTCR

Porcine testicular carbonyl reductase, PTCR which is one of the short chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) superfamily catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of carbonyl compounds including steroids and prostaglandins. Previously we reported C- terminal tail of PTCR was deleted due to a nonsynonymous single nucleotide variation (nsSNV). Here we identified from kinetic studies that the enzymatic properties for 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) were different between wild-type and C-terminal-deleted PTCRs. Compared to wild-type PTCR, C-terminal-deleted PTCR has much higher reduction rate. To investigate structural difference between wild-type and C-terminal-deleted PTCRs upon 5α-DHT binding, we performed molecular dynamics simulations for two complexes. Using trajectories, molecular interactions including hydrogen bonding patterns, distance between 5α-DHT and catalytic Tyr193, and interaction energies are analyzed and compared. During the MD simulation time, the dynamic behavior of C-terminal tail in wild-type PTCR is also examined using essential dynamics analysis. The results of our simulations reveal that the binding conformation of 5α-DHT in C-terminal-deleted PTCR is more favorable for reduction reaction in PTCR, which shows strong agreement with kinetic data. These structural findings provide valuable information to understand substrate specificity of PTCR and further kinetic properties of enzymes belonging to the SDR superfamily.

Comparative molecular dynamic simulations of wild type and Thr114Val mutated Scaptodrosophila lebanonensis alcohol dehydrogenase

Enzyme kinetics studies have shown that Scaptodrosophila lebanonensis alcohol dehydrogenase (SlADH) and other drosophilid alcohol dehydrogenases function by a compulsory-ordered mechanism where the coenzyme binds to the free enzyme, and that a proton is released upon formation of the binary enzyme-NAD(+) complex. A proton relay mechanism for the proton abstraction has been suggested that includes an eight-membered chain of water molecules connecting the active site with the bulk solvent. Thr114 bridges between two water molecules in the water chain. In a previous structural and enzyme kinetic study of a Thr114 Val mutant of SlADH, we showed that an intact water chain is essential for full enzyme activity. In the present study, comparative molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the wild type and the SlADH(T114V) were performed. The simulations showed differences in hydrogen bonding properties and dynamics between the wild type and the SlADH(T114V). Differences in molecular dynamical behaviour were seen in the loop of importance for binding the nicotinamide part of NAD(+), in the region important for binding the adenine part of NAD(+), and in the region of the amino acid at position 114. The substrates also had more freedom for conformational changes in active site of the wild type SlADH than of the SlADH(T114V). The differences in hydrogen bonding properties and MDs between the wild type and mutant could not have been observed from the X-ray crystal structures only.

Functional analysis of a mosquito short-chain dehydrogenase cluster

The short-chain dehydrogenases (SDR) constitute one of the oldest and largest families of enzymes with over 46,000 members in sequence databases. About 25% of all known dehydrogenases belong to the SDR family. SDR enzymes have critical roles in lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, hormone, and xenobiotic metabolism as well as in redox sensor mechanisms. This family is present in archaea, bacteria, and eukaryota, emphasizing their versatility and fundamental importance for metabolic processes. We identified a cluster of eight SDRs in the mosquito Aedes aegypti (AaSDRs). Members of the cluster differ in tissue specificity and developmental expression. Heterologous expression produced recombinant proteins that had diverse substrate specificities, but distinct from the conventional insect alcohol (ethanol) dehydrogenases. They are all NADP⁺-dependent and they have S-enantioselectivity and preference for secondary alcohols with 8-15 carbons. Homology modeling was used to build the structure of AaSDR1 and two additional cluster members. The computational study helped explain the selectivity toward the (10S)-isomers as well as the reduced activity of AaSDR4 and AaSDR9 for longer isoprenoid substrates. Similar clusters of SDRs are present in other species of insects, suggesting similar selection mechanisms causing duplication and diversification of this family of enzymes.

Structural insight into the molecular basis of polyextremophilicity of short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus sibiricus

Biochemical analysis of enantioselective short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus sibiricus (TsAdh319) revealed unique polyextremophilic properties of the enzyme - half-life of 1 h at 100 °C, tolerance to high salt (up to 4 M) and organic solvents (50% v/v) concentrations. To elucidate the molecular basis of TsAdh319 polyextremophilicity, we determined the crystal structure of the enzyme in a binary complex with 5-hydroxy-NADP at 1.68 Å resolution. TsAdh319 has a tetrameric structure both in the crystals and in solution with an intersubunit disulfide bond. The substrate-binding pocket is hydrophobic, spacious and open that is consistent with the observed promiscuity in substrate specificity of TsAdh319. The present study revealed an extraordinary number of charged residues on the surface of TsAdh319, 70% of which were involved in ion pair interactions. Further we compared the structure of TsAdh319 with the structures of other homologous short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) from thermophilic and mesophilic organisms. We found that TsAdh319 has the highest arginine and aspartate + glutamate contents compared to the counterparts. The frequency of occurrence of salt bridges on the surface of TsAdh319 is the highest among the SDRs under consideration. No differences in the proline, tryptophan, and phenylalanine contents are observed; the compactness of the protein core of TsAdh319, the monomer and tetramer organization do not differ from that of the counterparts. We suggest that the unique thermostability of TsAdh319 is associated with the rigidity and simultaneous "resilience" of the structure provided by a compact hydrophobic core and a large number of surface ion pairs. An extensive salt bridge network also might maintain the structural integrity of TsAdh319 in high salinity.

Identification and function of auxiliary iron-sulfur clusters in radical SAM enzymes

Radical SAM (RS) enzymes use a 5'-deoxyadenosyl 5'-radical generated from a reductive cleavage of S-adenosyl-l-methionine to catalyze over 40 distinct reaction types. A distinguishing feature of these enzymes is a [4Fe-4S] cluster to which each of three iron ions is ligated by three cysteinyl residues most often located in a Cx(3)Cx(2)C motif. The α-amino and α-carboxylate groups of SAM anchor the molecule to the remaining iron ion, which presumably facilitates its reductive cleavage. A subset of RS enzymes contains additional iron-sulfur clusters, - which we term auxiliary clusters - most of which have unidentified functions. Enzymes in this subset are involved in cofactor biosynthesis and maturation, post-transcriptional and post-translational modification, enzyme activation, and antibiotic biosynthesis. The additional clusters in these enzymes have been proposed to function in sulfur donation, electron transfer, and substrate anchoring. This review will highlight evidence supporting the presence of multiple iron-sulfur clusters in these enzymes as well as their predicted roles in catalysis. This article is part of a special issue entitled: Radical SAM enzymes and radical enzymology.

An intact eight-membered water chain in drosophilid alcohol dehydrogenases is essential for optimal enzyme activity

All drosophilid alcohol dehydrogenases contain an eight-member water chain connecting the active site with the solvent at the dimer interface. A similar water chain has also been shown to exist in other short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) enzymes, including therapeutically important SDRs. The role of this water chain in the enzymatic reaction is unknown, but it has been proposed to be involved in a proton relay system. In the present study, a connecting link in the water chain was removed by mutating Thr114 to Val114 in Scaptodrosophila lebanonensis alcohol dehydrogenase (SlADH). This threonine is conserved in all drosophilid alcohol dehydrogenases but not in other SDRs. X-ray crystallography of the SlADH(T114V) mutant revealed a broken water chain, the overall 3D structure of the binary enzyme-NAD(+) complex was almost identical to the wild-type enzyme (SlADH(wt) ). As for the SlADH(wt) , steady-state kinetic studies revealed that catalysis by the SlADH(T114V) mutant was consistent with a compulsory ordered reaction mechanism where the co-enzyme binds to the free enzyme. The mutation caused a reduction of the k(on) velocity for NAD(+) and its binding strength to the enzyme, as well as the rate of hydride transfer (k) in the ternary enzyme-NAD(+) -alcohol complex. Furthermore, it increased the pK(a) value of the group in the binary enzyme-NAD(+) complex that regulates the k(on) velocity of alcohol and alcohol-competitive inhibitors. Overall, the results indicate that an intact water chain is essential for optimal enzyme activity and participates in a proton relay system during catalysis.

Insights into subtle conformational differences in the substrate-binding loop of fungal 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: a combined structural and kinetic approach

The 17β-HSD (17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) from the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus (17β-HSDcl) is a NADP(H)-dependent enzyme that preferentially catalyses the interconversion of inactive 17-oxo-steroids and their active 17β-hydroxy counterparts. 17β-HSDcl belongs to the SDR (short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase) superfamily. It is currently the only fungal 17β-HSD member that has been described and represents one of the model enzymes of the cP1 classical subfamily of NADPH-dependent SDR enzymes. A thorough crystallographic analysis has been performed to better understand the structural aspects of this subfamily and provide insights into the evolution of the HSD enzymes. The crystal structures of the 17β-HSDcl apo, holo and coumestrol-inhibited ternary complex, and the active-site Y167F mutant reveal subtle conformational differences in the substrate-binding loop that probably modulate the catalytic activity of 17β-HSDcl. Coumestrol, a plant-derived non-steroidal compound with oestrogenic activity, inhibits 17β-HSDcl [IC50 2.8 μM; at 100 μM substrate (4-oestrene-3,17-dione)] by occupying the putative steroid-binding site. In addition to an extensive hydrogen-bonding network, coumestrol binding is stabilized further by π–π stacking interactions with Tyr212. A stopped-flow kinetic experiment clearly showed the coenzyme dissociation as the slowest step of the reaction and, in addition to the low steroid solubility, it prevents the accumulation of enzyme–coenzyme–steroid ternary complexes.

Evolution of enzymatic activities of testis-specific short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase in Drosophila

The testis-specific gene Jingwei (jgw) is a newly evolved short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase in Drosophila. Preliminary substrate screening indicated that JGW prefers long-chain primary alcohols as substrates, including several exotic alcohols such as farnesol and geraniol. Using steady-state kinetics analyses and molecular docking, we not only confirmed JGW's substrate specificity, but also demonstrated that the new enzymatic activities of JGW evolved extensively after exon-shuffling from a preexisting enzyme. Analysis of JGW orthologs in sister species shows that subsequent evolutionary changes following the birth of JGW altered substrate specificities and enzyme stabilities. Our results lend support to a general mechanism for the evolution of a new enzyme, in which catalytic chemistry evolves first followed by diversification of substrate utilization.

Expression, purification and crystallization of a thermostable short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase from the archaeon Thermococcus sibiricus

Alcohol dehydrogenases belong to the oxidoreductase family and play an important role in a broad range of physiological processes. They catalyze the cofactor-dependent reversible oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones. The NADP-dependent short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase TsAdh319 from the thermophilic archaeon Thermococcus sibiricus was overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Crystals were obtained using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using 25%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 3350 pH 7.5 as precipitant. The crystals diffracted to 1.68 A resolution and belonged to space group I222, with unit-cell parameters a = 55.63, b = 83.25, c = 120.75 A.

MM-align: a quick algorithm for aligning multiple-chain protein complex structures using iterative dynamic programming

Structural comparison of multiple-chain protein complexes is essential in many studies of protein-protein interactions. We develop a new algorithm, MM-align, for sequence-independent alignment of protein complex structures. The algorithm is built on a heuristic iteration of a modified Needleman-Wunsch dynamic programming (DP) algorithm, with the alignment score specified by the inter-complex residue distances. The multiple chains in each complex are first joined, in every possible order, and then simultaneously aligned with cross-chain alignments prevented. The alignments of interface residues are enhanced by an interface-specific weighting factor. MM-align is tested on a large-scale benchmark set of 205 x 3897 non-homologous multiple-chain complex pairs. Compared with a naïve extension of the monomer alignment program of TM-align, the alignment accuracy of MM-align is significantly higher as judged by the average TM-score of the physically-aligned residues. MM-align is about two times faster than TM-align because of omitting the cross-alignment zone of the DP matrix. It also shows that the enhanced alignment of the interfaces helps in identifying biologically relevant protein complex pairs.

Characterization of key residues and membrane association domains in retinol dehydrogenase 10

RDH10 (retinol dehydrogenase 10) was originally identified from the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal Müller cells. It has retinoid oxidoreductase activity and is thought to play a role in the retinoid visual cycle. A recent study showed that RDH10 is essential for generating retinoic acid at early embryonic stages. The present study demonstrated that wild-type RDH10 catalysed both oxidation of all-trans-retinol and reduction of all-trans-retinal in a cofactor-dependent manner In vitro. In cultured cells, however, oxidation is the favoured reaction catalysed by RDH10. Substitution of any of the predicted key residues in the catalytic centre conserved in the RDH family abolished the enzymatic activity of RDH10 without affecting its protein level. Unlike other RDH members, however, replacement of Ser(197), a key residue for stabilizing the substrate, by glycine and alanine did not abolish the enzymatic activity of RDH10, whereas RDH10 mutants S197C, S197T and S197V completely lost their enzymatic activity. These results suggest that the size of the residue at position 197 is critical for the activity of RDH10. Mutations of the three glycine residues (Gly(43), Gly(47) and Gly(49)) in the predicted cofactor-binding motif (Gly-Xaa(3)-Gly-Xaa-Gly) of RDH10 abolished its enzymatic activity, suggesting that the cofactor-binding motif is essential for its activity. Deletion of the two hydrophobic domains dissociated RDH10 from the membrane and abolished its activity. These studies identified the key residues for the activity of RDH10 and will contribute to the further elucidation of mechanism of this important enzyme.

Carbonyl Reductases and Pluripotent Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases of the Short-chain Dehydrogenase/reductase Superfamily

Carbonyl reduction of aldehydes, ketones, and quinones to their corresponding hydroxy derivatives plays an important role in the phase I metabolism of many endogenous (biogenic aldehydes, steroids, prostaglandins, reactive lipid peroxidation products) and xenobiotic (pharmacologic drugs, carcinogens, toxicants) compounds. Carbonyl-reducing enzymes are grouped into two large protein superfamilies: the aldo-keto reductases (AKR) and the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR). Whereas aldehyde reductase and aldose reductase are AKRs, several forms of carbonyl reductase belong to the SDRs. In addition, there exist a variety of pluripotent hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs) of both superfamilies that specifically catalyze the oxidoreduction at different positions of the steroid nucleus and also catalyze, rather nonspecifically, the reductive metabolism of a great number of nonsteroidal carbonyl compounds. The present review summarizes recent findings on carbonyl reductases and pluripotent HSDs of the SDR protein superfamily.

Crystal structure of a carbonyl reductase from Candida parapsilosis with anti-Prelog stereospecificity

A novel short-chain (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol dehydrogenase (SCR) from Candida parapsilosis exhibits coenzyme specificity for NADPH over NADH. It catalyzes an anti-Prelog type reaction to reduce 2-hydroxyacetophenone into (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol. The coding gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the purified protein was crystallized. The crystal structure of the apo-form was solved to 2.7 A resolution. This protein forms a homo-tetramer with a broken 2-2-2 symmetry. The overall fold of each SCR subunit is similar to that of the known structures of other homologous alcohol dehydrogenases, although the latter usually form tetramers with perfect 2-2-2 symmetries. Additionally, in the apo-SCR structure, the entrance of the NADPH pocket is blocked by a surface loop. In order to understand the structure-function relationship of SCR, we carried out a number of mutagenesis-enzymatic analyses based on the new structural information. First, mutations of the putative catalytic Ser-Tyr-Lys triad confirmed their functional role. Second, truncation of an N-terminal 31-residue peptide indicated its role in oligomerization, but not in catalytic activity. Similarly, a V270D point mutation rendered the SCR as a dimer, rather than a tetramer, without affecting the enzymatic activity. Moreover, the S67D/H68D double-point mutation inside the coenzyme-binding pocket resulted in a nearly 10-fold increase and a 20-fold decrease in the k(cat) /K(M) value when NADH and NADPH were used as cofactors, respectively, with k(cat) remaining essentially the same. This latter result provides a new example of a protein engineering approach to modify the coenzyme specificity in SCR and short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases in general.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a carbonyl reductase from Candida parapsilosis

A novel short-chain NADPH-dependent (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol dehydrogenase (SCR) has been crystallized. Two distinct but related crystal forms of SCR were obtained using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method and a reservoir solution consisting of 18%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 2000 monomethyl ether and 8%(v/v) 2-propanol as the precipitant. The crystals were rhomboid in shape with average dimensions of 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.4 mm and diffracted to a resolution of 2.7-3.0 A. The crystal forms both belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and have unit-cell parameters a = 104.7, b = 142.8, c = 151.8 A and a = 101.1, b = 146.0, c = 159.8 A. The calculated values of V(M), rotation-function and translation-function solutions and consideration of potential crystal packing suggest that there are eight protein subunits per asymmetric unit.

Cosubstrate-induced dynamics of D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida

D-3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida belongs to the family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. We have determined X-ray structures of the D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida, which was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli, in three different crystal forms to resolutions between 1.9 and 2.1 A. The so-called substrate-binding loop (residues 187-210) was partially disordered in several subunits, in both the presence and absence of NAD(+). However, in two subunits, this loop was completely defined in an open conformation in the apoenzyme and in a closed conformation in the complex structure with NAD(+). Structural comparisons indicated that the loop moves as a rigid body by about 46 degrees . However, the two small alpha-helices (alphaFG1 and alphaFG2) of the loop also re-orientated slightly during the conformational change. Probably, the interactions of Val185, Thr187 and Leu189 with the cosubstrate induced the conformational change. A model of the binding mode of the substrate D-3-hydroxybutyrate indicated that the loop in the closed conformation, as a result of NAD(+) binding, is positioned competent for catalysis. Gln193 is the only residue of the substrate-binding loop that interacts directly with the substrate. A translation, libration and screw (TLS) analysis of the rigid body movement of the loop in the crystal showed significant librational displacements, describing the coordinated movement of the substrate-binding loop in the crystal. NAD(+) binding increased the flexibility of the substrate-binding loop and shifted the equilibrium between the open and closed forms towards the closed form. The finding that all NAD(+) -bound subunits are present in the closed form and all NAD(+) -free subunits in the open form indicates that the loop closure is induced by cosubstrate binding alone. This mechanism may contribute to the sequential binding of cosubstrate followed by substrate.

Theoretical calculations of the catalytic triad in short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases/reductases

Three highly conserved active site residues (Ser, Tyr, and Lys) of the family of short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) were demonstrated to be essential for catalytic activity and have been denoted the catalytic triad of SDRs. In this study computational methods were adopted to study the ionization properties of these amino acids in SDRs from Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila lebanonensis. Three enzyme models, with different ionization scenarios of the catalytic triad that might be possible when inhibitors bind to the enzyme cofactor complex, were constructed. The binding of the two alcohol competitive inhibitors were studied using automatic docking by the Internal Coordinate Mechanics program, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations with the AMBER program package, calculation of the free energy of ligand binding by the linear interaction energy method, and the hydropathic interactions force field. The calculations indicated that deprotonated Tyr acts as a strong base in the binary enzyme-NAD(+) complex. Molecular dynamic simulations for 5 ns confirmed that deprotonated Tyr is essential for anchoring and orientating the inhibitors at the active site, which might be a general trend for the family of SDRs. The findings here have implications for the development of therapeutically important SDR inhibitors.

Molecular docking for substrate identification: the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases

Protein ligand docking has recently been investigated as a tool for protein function identification, with some success in identifying both known and unknown substrates of proteins. However, identifying a protein's substrate when cross-docking a large number of enzymes and their cognate ligands remains a challenge. To explore a more limited yet practically important and timely problem in more detail, we have used docking for identifying the substrates of a single protein family with remarkable substrate diversity, the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. We examine different protocols for identifying candidate substrates for 27 short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase proteins of known catalytic function. We present the results of docking >900 metabolites from the human metabolome to each of these proteins together with their known cognate substrates and products, and we investigate the ability of docking to (a) reproduce a viable binding mode for the substrate and (b) to rank the substrate highly amongst the dataset of other metabolites. In addition, we examine whether our docking results provide information about the nature of the substrate, based on the best-scoring metabolites in the dataset. We compare two different docking methods and two alternative scoring functions for one of the docking methods, and we attempt to rationalise both successes and failures. Finally, we introduce a new protocol, whereby we dock only a set of representative structures (medoids) to each of the proteins, in the hope of characterising each binding site in terms of its ligand preferences, with a reduced computational cost. We compare the results from this protocol with our original docking experiments, and we find that although the rank of the representatives correlates well with the mean rank of the clusters to which they belong, a simple structure-based clustering is too naive for the purpose of substrate identification. Many clusters comprise ligands with widely varying affinities for the same protein; hence important candidates can be missed if a single representative is used.

Homology modeling of major intrinsic proteins in rice, maize and Arabidopsis: comparative analysis of transmembrane helix association and aromatic/arginine selectivity filters

Background

The major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) facilitate the transport of water and neutral solutes across the lipid bilayers. Plant MIPs are believed to be important in cell division and expansion and in water transport properties in response to environmental conditions. More than 30 MIP sequences have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, maize and rice. Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), Nod26-like intrinsic protein (NIPs) and small and basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) are subfamilies of plant MIPs. Despite sequence diversity, all the experimentally determined structures belonging to the MIP superfamily have the same "hour-glass" fold.

Results

We have structurally characterized 39 rice and 31 maize MIPs and compared them with that of Arabidopsis. Homology models of 105 MIPs from all three plant species were built. Structure-based sequence alignments were generated and the residues in the helix-helix interfaces were analyzed. Small residues (Gly/Ala/Ser/Thr) are found to be highly conserved as a group in the helix-helix interface of MIP structures. Individual families sometimes prefer one or another of the residues from this group. The narrow aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter in MIPs has been shown to provide an important constriction for solute permeability. Ar/R regions were analyzed and compared between the three plant species. Seventeen TIP, NIP and SIP members from rice and maize have ar/R signatures that are not found in Arabidopsis. A subgroup of rice and maize NIPs has small residues in three of the four positions in the ar/R tetrad, resulting in a wider constriction. These MIP members could transport larger solute molecules.

Conclusion

Small residues are group-conserved in the helix-helix interface of MIP structures and they seem to be important for close helix-helix interactions. Such conservation might help to preserve the hour-glass fold in MIP structures. Analysis and comparison of ar/R selectivity filters suggest that rice and maize MIPs could transport more diverse solutes than Arabidopsis MIPs. Thus the MIP members show conservation in helix-helix interfaces and diversity in aromatic/arginine selectivity filters. The former is related to structural stability and the later can be linked to functional diversity.

Studies of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase and implications for the development of antiparasitic agents

Recent studies have demonstrated that submicromolar concentrations of the biocide triclosan arrest the growth of the apicomplexan parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii and inhibit the activity of the apicomplexan enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR). The crystal structures of T. gondii and P. falciparum ENR in complex with NAD(+) and triclosan and of T. gondii ENR in an apo form have been solved to 2.6, 2.2 and 2.8 A, respectively. The structures of T. gondii ENR have revealed that, as in its bacterial and plant homologues, a loop region which flanks the active site becomes ordered upon inhibitor binding, resulting in the slow tight binding of triclosan. In addition, the T. gondii ENR-triclosan complex reveals the folding of a hydrophilic insert common to the apicomplexan family that flanks the substrate-binding domain and is disordered in all other reported apicomplexan ENR structures. Structural comparison of the apicomplexan ENR structures with their bacterial and plant counterparts has revealed that although the active sites of the parasite enzymes are broadly similar to those of their bacterial counterparts, there are a number of important differences within the drug-binding pocket that reduce the packing interactions formed with several inhibitors in the apicomplexan ENR enzymes. Together with other significant structural differences, this provides a possible explanation of the lower affinity of the parasite ENR enzyme family for aminopyridine-based inhibitors, suggesting that an effective antiparasitic agent may well be distinct from equivalent antimicrobials.

Understanding oligomerization in 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase from Comamonas testosteroni: An in silico approach and evidence for an active protein

3alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase (3alpha-HSD/CR) from Comamonas testosteroni belongs to the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) protein superfamily and catalyzes the oxidoreduction of a variety of steroid substrates, including the steroid antibiotic fusidic acid. The enzyme also mediates the carbonyl reduction of non-steroidal aldehydes and ketones such as a novel insecticide. It is suggested that 3alpha-HSD/CR contributes to the bioremediation of natural and synthetic toxicants by C. testosteroni. Crystallization and structure analysis showed that 3alpha-HSD/CR is active as a dimer. Dimerization takes place via an interface axis which has exclusively been observed in homotetrameric SDRs but never in the structure of a homodimeric SDR. The formation of a tetramer is blocked in 3alpha-HSD/CR by the presence of a predominantly alpha-helical subdomain which is missing in all other SDRs of known structure. For example, 3alpha/20beta-HSD from Streptomyces hydrogenans exhibits two main subunit interfaces arranged about two non-crystallographic two-fold axes which are perpendicular to each other and referred to as P and Q. This mode of dimerization is, however, sterically impossible in 3alpha-HSD/CR because of a 28 amino acids insertion into the classical Rossmann-fold motif between strand betaE and helix alphaF. This insertion is masking helices alphaE and alphaF, thus preventing the formation of a four helix bundle and enables the dimerization via a P-axis interface. This type of dimerization in SDRs has never been observed in a crystal structure so far. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the lack of this predominantly alpha-helical subdomain keeps 3alpha-HSD/CR to be an active enzyme and whether, by an in silico approach, the formation of a homotetramer or even a novel oligomerization mode can be expected. Redesign of this interface was performed on the basis of site directed mutagenesis and according to other SDR structures by an approach combining "in silico" and "wet chemistry". Simulations of sterical and structural effects after different mutations, by applying a combination of homology modelling and molecular dynamic simulations, provided an effective tool for extensive mutagenesis studies and indicated the possibility of tetramer formation of truncated 3alpha-HSD/CR. In addition, despite lacking the extra loop domain, mutant 3alpha-HSD/CR was shown to be active towards a variety of standard substrates.

Structure and function of the c-myc DNA-unwinding element-binding protein DUE-B

Local zones of easily unwound DNA are characteristic of prokaryotic and eukaryotic replication origins. The DNA-unwinding element of the human c-myc replication origin is essential for replicator activity and is a target of the DNA-unwinding element-binding protein DUE-B in vivo. We present here the 2.0A crystal structure of DUE-B and complementary biochemical characterization of its biological activity. The structure corresponds to a dimer of the N-terminal domain of the full-length protein and contains many of the structural elements of the nucleotide binding fold. A single magnesium ion resides in the putative active site cavity, which could serve to facilitate ATP hydrolytic activity of this protein. The structure also demonstrates a notable similarity to those of tRNA-editing enzymes. Consistent with this structural homology, the N-terminal core of DUE-B is shown to display both D-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylase activity and ATPase activity. We further demonstrate that the C-terminal portion of the enzyme is disordered and not essential for dimerization. However, this region is essential for DNA binding in vitro and becomes ordered in the presence of DNA.

Molecular basis of substrate recognition in D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida

D-3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida (EC 1.1.1.30) belongs to the family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs). It catalyzes the reversible and stereospecific oxidation of D-3-hydroxybutyrate (D-3-HB) to acetoacetate with the aid of NAD(+) as coenzyme. This study contributes to understanding the mechanism and the high specificity of this enzyme towards its negatively charged and hydrophilic substrate. Sequence comparison of 44 bacterial HBDHs shows the residues Gln91, His141, Lys149, Lys192, and Gln193 to be strictly conserved. Site-directed mutagenesis of these amino acids to alanine and subsequent kinetic characterization of the mutated enzymes provides insight into the importance of these residues for substrate recognition and catalysis. Docking studies and molecular-dynamics simulations based on a three-dimensional structure model of a complex between P. putida HBDH and its coenzyme obtained by comparative molecular modeling were performed and provided deeper insight into the binding of the ligands at the molecular level. They show the residues Gln91, His141, Gln193, and, in particular, Lys149 to be involved in a hydrogen-bonding network with the carboxylate group of the substrate.

Positive and negative selection in the beta-esterase gene cluster of the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup

We examine the pattern of molecular evolution of the beta-esterase gene cluster, including the Est-6 and psiEst-6 genes, in eight species of the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup. Using maximum likelihood estimates of nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratios, we show that the majority of Est-6 sites evolves under strong (48% of sites) or moderate (50% of sites) negative selection and a minority of sites (1.5%) is under significant positive selection. Est-6 sites likely to be under positive selection are associated with increased intraspecific variability. One positively selected site is responsible for the EST-6 F/S allozyme polymorphism; the same site is responsible for the EST-6 functional divergence between species of the melanogaster subgroup. For psiEst-6 83.7% sites evolve under negative selection, 16% sites evolve neutrally, and 0.3% sites are under positive selection. The positively selected sites of psiEst-6 are located at the beginning and at the end of the gene, where there is reduced divergence between D. melanogaster and D. simulans; these regions of psiEst-6 could be involved in regulation or some other function. Branch-site-specific analysis shows that the evolution of the melanogaster subgroup underwent episodic positive selection. Collating the present data with previous results for the beta-esterase genes, we propose that positive and negative selection are involved in a complex relationship that may be typical of the divergence of duplicate genes as one or both duplicates evolve a new function.

Differences in catalytic activity between rat testicular and ovarian carbonyl reductases are due to two amino acids

The sequences of rat testis carbonyl reductase (rCR1) and rat ovary carbonyl reductase (rCR2) are 98% identical, differing only at amino acids 140, 141, 143, 235 and 238. Despite such strong sequence identity, we find that rCR1 and rCR2 have different catalytic constants for metabolism of menadione and 4-benzoyl-pyridine. Compared to rCR1, rCR2 has a 20-fold lower K(m) and 5-fold lower k(cat) towards menadione and a 7-fold lower K(m) and 7-fold lower k(cat) towards 4-benzoyl-pyridine. We constructed hybrids of rCR1 and rCR2 that were changed at either residues 140, 141 and 143 or residues 235 and 238. rCR1 with residues 140, 141 and 143 of rCR2 has similar catalytic efficiency for menadione and 4-benzoyl-pyridine as rCR1. rCR1 with Thr-235 and Glu-238 of rCR2 has the catalytic constants of rCR2, indicating that it is this part of rCR2 that contributes to its lower K(m) for menadione and 4-benzoyl-pyridine. Comparisons of three-dimensional models of rCR1 and rCR2 show how Thr-235 and Glu-238 stabilize rCR2 binding of NADPH and menadione.

Coenzyme specificity in fungal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

The 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from the fungus Cochliobolus lunatus is an NADP(H)-dependent member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily (SDR) that belongs to the cP1 classical subfamily. Here, we have created several mutants by site-directed mutagenesis, and through these we have studied the amino acid residues that are responsible for coenzyme binding and specificity. The Thr202Val and Thr202Ile mutants were inactive, thus confirming the importance of Thr202 for the appropriate orientation of the coenzyme that enables the hydride transfer. The Ala50Arg and Asn51Arg mutants had increased rates of NADPH dissociation, and thus an enhanced substrate oxidation with NADP+, while the Asn51Arg mutant also showed an increased rate of NADP+ dissociation, and thus an enhanced substrate reduction with NADPH. Addition of a negatively-charged amino acid residue at the first position after the second beta-strand (Tyr49Asp) affected the coenzyme specificity and turned the enzyme into an NAD+-dependent oxidase resembling the cD1d subfamily members.

Activity variation in alcohol dehydrogenase paralogs is associated with adaptation to cactus host use in cactophilic Drosophila

Drosophila mojavensis and Drosophila arizonae are species of cactophilic flies that share a recent duplication of the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) locus. One paralog (Adh-2) is expressed in adult tissues and the other (Adh-1) in larvae and ovaries. Enzyme activity measurements of the ADH-2 amino acid polymorphism in D. mojavensis suggest that the Fast allozyme allele has a higher activity on 2-propanol than 1-propanol. The Fast allele was found at highest frequency in populations that utilize hosts with high proportions of 2-propanol, while the Slow allele is most frequent in populations that utilize hosts with high proportions of 1-propanol. This suggests that selection for ADH-2 allozyme alleles with higher activity on the most abundant alcohols is occurring in each D. mojavensis population. In the other paralog, ADH-1, significant differences between D. mojavensis and D. arizonae are associated with a previously shown pattern of adaptive protein evolution in D. mojavensis. Examination of protein sequences showed that a large number of amino acid fixations between the paralogs have occurred in catalytic residues. These changes are potentially responsible for the significant difference in substrate specificity between the paralogs. Both functional and sequence variation within and between paralogs suggests that Adh has played an important role in the adaptation of D. mojavensis and D. arizonae to their cactophilic life.

Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase: acetate-enzyme interactions and novel insights into the effects of electrostatics on catalysis

Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase (DADH) is an NAD+-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes/ketones and that is also able to further oxidize aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acids. The structure of the ternary enzyme-NADH-acetate complex of the slow alleloform of Drosophila melanogaster ADH (DmADH-S) was solved at 1.6 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. The coenzyme stereochemistry of the aldehyde dismutation reaction showed that the obtained enzyme-NADH-acetate complex reflects a productive ternary complex although no enzymatic reaction occurs. The stereochemistry of the acetate binding in the bifurcated substrate-binding site, along with previous stereochemical studies of aldehyde reduction and alcohol oxidation shows that the methyl group of the aldehyde in the reduction reaction binds to the R1 and in the oxidation reaction to the R2 sub-site. NMR studies along with previous kinetic studies show that the formed acetaldehyde intermediate in the oxidation of ethanol to acetate leaves the substrate site prior to the reduced coenzyme, and then binds to the newly formed enzyme-NAD+ complex. Here, we compare the three-dimensional structure of D.melanogaster ADH-S and a previous theoretically built model, evaluate the differences with the crystal structures of five Drosophila lebanonensis ADHs in numerous complexed forms that explain the substrate specificity as well as subtle kinetic differences between these two enzymes based on their crystal structures. We also re-examine the electrostatic influence of charged residues on the surface of the protein on the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme.

The Crystal Structure of Guinea Pig 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Provides a Model for Enzyme-Lipid Bilayer Interactions

The metabolic reduction of 11-keto groups in glucocorticoid steroids such as cortisone leads to the nuclear receptor ligand cortisol. This conversion is an example of pre-receptor regulation and constitutes a novel pharmacological target for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and possibly other derangements observed in the metabolic syndrome, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and lowered insulin secretion. This reaction is carried out by the NADPH-dependent type 1 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD1), an enzyme attached through an integral N-terminal transmembrane helix to the lipid bilayer and located with its active site within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we report the crystal structure of recombinant guinea pig 11beta-HSD1. This variant was determined in complex with NADP at 2.5 A resolution and crystallized in the presence of detergent and guanidinium hydrochloride. The overall structure of guinea pig 11beta-HSD1 shows a clear relationship to other members of the superfamily of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases but harbors a unique C-terminal helical segment that fulfills three essential functions and accordingly is involved in subunit interactions, contributes to active site architecture, and is necessary for lipid-membrane interactions. The structure provides a model for enzyme-lipid bilayer interactions and suggests a funneling of lipophilic substrates such as steroid hormones from the hydrophobic membrane environment to the enzyme active site.

Functional constraints of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) of tephritidae and relationships with other Dipteran species

Alcohol dehydrogenase is considered a very important enzyme in insect metabolism because it is involved (in its homodimeric form) in the catalysis of the reversible conversion of various alcohols in larval feeding sites to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, thus contributing to detoxification and metabolic purposes. Using 14 amino acid ADH sequences recently determined in our laboratory, we constructed a three-dimensional (3D) model of olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae ADH1 and ADH2, based on the known homologous Drosophila lebanonensis ADH structure, and the amino acid residues that have been proposed as being responsible for catalysis were located on it. Moreover, in a comparative study of the ADH sequences, the residues occupying characteristic positions in the ADH of species of the Bactrocera and Ceratitis genera (called genus-specific) as well as residues appearing only in ADH1 or ADH2 (called isozymic-specific) were defined and localized on the 3D model. All regions important for catalytic activity, such as those forming the substrate- and coenzyme-binding sites, are highly conserved in all tephritid species examined. Genus-specific amino acids are located on the outside of the protein, on loops and regions predicted to be antigenic. The higher percentage of genus-specific amino acid variation seems to be centered in the NAD adenine-binding site, located near the surface of the protein molecule. Nine of 12 isozymic-specific positions are lined along an "arc" on the surface of the protein, thus linking the two "monomer bases" of the dimer via the C-terminal interacting loops. Furthermore, the distribution of isozymic- and genus-specific amino acids on the monomer-monomer interface may have some evolutionary significance. Most amino acids predicted to be antigenic are positioned in peripheral regions of nonfunctional importance, but surprisingly, an additional antigenic region is contained within the (highly conserved in tephritids) C-terminal tail.

Evolving protein functional diversity in new genes of Drosophila

The mechanism by which protein functional diversity expands is an important evolutionary issue. Studies of recently evolved chimeric genes permit direct investigation of the origin of new protein functions before they become obscured by subsequent evolution. Found in several African Drosophila species, jingwei (jgw), a recently evolved gene with a domain derived from the still extant short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) through retroposition, provides an opportunity to examine this previously undescribed process directly. We expressed JGW proteins in a microbial expression system and, after purification, investigated their enzymatic properties. We found that, unexpectedly, positive Darwinian selection for amino acid replacements outside the active site of JGW produced a novel dehydrogenase with altered substrate specificity compared with the ancestral ADH. Instead of detoxifying and assimilating ethanol like its Adh parental gene, we observe that JGW efficiently utilizes long-chain primary alcohols found in hormone and pheromone metabolism. These data suggest that protein functional diversity can expand rapidly under the joint forces of exon shuffling, gene duplication, and natural selection.

Structural insights into the neuroprotective-acting carbonyl reductase Sniffer of Drosophila melanogaster

In vivo studies with the fruit-fly Drosophila melanogaster have shown that the Sniffer protein prevents age-dependent and oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative processes. Sniffer is a NADPH-dependent carbonyl reductase belonging to the enzyme family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs). The crystal structure of the homodimeric Sniffer protein from Drosophila melanogaster in complex with NADP+ has been determined by multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion and refined to a resolution of 1.75 A. The observed fold represents a typical dinucleotide-binding domain as detected for other SDRs. With respect to the cofactor-binding site and the region referred to as substrate-binding loop, the Sniffer protein shows a striking similarity to the porcine carbonyl reductase (PTCR). This loop, in both Sniffer and PTCR, is substantially shortened compared to other SDRs. In most enzymes of the SDR family this loop adopts a well-defined conformation only after substrate binding and remains disordered in the absence of any bound ligands or even if only the dinucleotide cofactor is bound. In the structure of the Sniffer protein, however, the conformation of this loop is well defined, although no substrate is present. Molecular modeling studies provide an idea of how binding of substrate molecules to Sniffer could possibly occur.

The ternary complex of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alcohol dehydrogenase with NADH and ethylene glycol

Pseudomonas aeruginosa alcohol dehydrogenase (PaADH; ADH, EC 1.1.1.1) catalyzes the reversible oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones, using NAD as coenzyme. We crystallized the ternary complex of PaADH with its coenzyme and a substrate molecule and determined its structure at a resolution of 2.3 A, using the molecular replacement method. The PaADH tetramer comprises four identical chains of 342 amino acid residues each and obeys ~222-point symmetry. The PaADH monomer is structurally similar to alcohol dehydrogenase monomers from vertebrates, archaea, and bacteria. The stabilization of the ternary complex of PaADH, the coenzyme, and the poor substrate ethylene glycol (k(cat) = 4.5 sec(-1); Km > 200 mM) was due to the blocked exit of the coenzyme in the crystalline state, combined with a high (2.5 M) concentration of the substrate. The structure of the ternary complex presents the precise geometry of the Zn coordination complex, the proton-shuttling system, and the hydride transfer path. The ternary complex structure also suggests that the low efficiency of ethylene glycol as a substrate results from the presence of a second hydroxyl group in this molecule.

Exploring the evolutionary history of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene (Adh) duplication in species of the family tephritidae

In the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae and the med fly Ceratitis capitata previous studies have shown the existence of two Adh genes in each species. This observation, in combination with the former finding that various Drosophila species of virilis and repleta group encode two isozymes of ADH which are the result of a gene duplication, challenged us to address a scenario dealing with the evolutionary history of the Adh gene duplication in Tephritidae. In our lab we proceeded to the cloning and sequence analysis of Adh genes from more tephritid species, a prerequisite for further study of this issue. Here we show that phylogenetic trees produced from either the nucleotide or the amino acid sequences of 14 tephritid Adh genes consisted of two main clusters, with Adh sequences of the same "type" grouping together (i.e., Adh1 sequences form a cluster and Adh2 sequences form a second one), as expected if there was one duplication event before speciation within the family Tephritidae. We used the amount of divergence between the two isozymic forms of Adh of the species carrying both Adh1 and Adh2 genes to obtain an estimate of the age of the duplication event. Interestingly, our data again support the hypothesis that the duplication of an ancestral Adh single gene in the family Tephritidae occurred before the emergence of the genera Bactrocera and Ceratitis, thus suggesting that Adh duplication was based on a prespeciation rather than a postspeciation event that might have involved two independent duplication events, one in each of the two genera.

Rational proteomics I. Fingerprint identification and cofactor specificity in the short-chain oxidoreductase (SCOR) enzyme family

The short-chain oxidoreductase (SCOR) family of enzymes includes over 2000 members identified in sequenced genomes. Of these enzymes, approximately 200 have been characterized functionally, and the three-dimensional crystal structures of approximately 40 have been reported. Since some SCOR enzymes are involved in hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, and polycystic kidney disease, it is important to characterize the other members of the family for which the biological functions are currently unknown. Although the SCOR family appears to have only a single fully conserved residue, it was possible, using bioinformatics methods, to determine characteristic fingerprints composed of 30-40 residues that are conserved at the 70% or greater level in SCOR subgroups. These fingerprints permit reliable prediction of several important structure-function features including NAD/NADP cofactor preference. For example, the correlation of aspartate or arginine residues with NAD or NADP binding, respectively, predicts the cofactor preference of more than 70% of the SCOR proteins with unknown function. The analysis of conserved residues surrounding the cofactor has revealed the presence of previously undetected CH em leader O hydrogen bonds in the majority of the SCOR crystal structures, predicts the presence of similar hydrogen bonds in 90% of the SCOR proteins of unknown function, and suggests that these hydrogen bonds may play a critical role in the catalytic functions of these enzymes.

Addition of side chains to a known backbone with defined side-chain centroids

An automatic procedure is proposed for adding side chains to a protein backbone; it is based on optimization of a simplified energy function for peptide side chains, given its backbone and positions of side-chain centroids. The energy is expressed as a sum of the energies of interaction between side chains, and a harmonic penalty function accounting for the preservation of the positions of the C(alpha) atoms and the side-chain centroids. The energy of side-chain interactions is calculated with the soft-sphere ECEPP/3 potential. A Monte Carlo search is carried out to explore all possible side-chain orientations within a fixed backbone and side-chain centroid positions. The initial, usually extended, side-chain conformations are taken directly from the ECEPP/3 database. The procedure was tested on six experimental (X-ray or NMR) structures: immunoglobulin binding protein (PDB code 1IGD, an alpha+beta-protein); transcription factor PML (PDB code 1BOR, a 49-104 fragment of the ring finger domain, predominantly beta-protein); bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (crystal form II) (PDB code 1BPI, an alpha+beta-protein); the monomer of human deoxyhemoglobin (PDB code 1BZ0, an alpha-helical structure); chain A of alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila lebanonensis (PDB code 1A4U); as well as on the 10-55 portion of the B domain of staphylococcal protein A (PDB code 1BDD). In all cases except 1BPI, the data for the algorithm (i.e. the backbone or C(alpha) coordinates and the positions of side-chain centroids) were taken from the experimental structures. For protein A, the C(alpha) coordinates and positions of side-chain centroids were also taken from the 1.9-A-resolution model predicted by the UNRES force field. In all comparisons with experimental structures, complete side-chain geometry was reconstructed with a root-mean-square (RMS) deviation of approximately 0.6-0.9 A from the heavy atoms when complete backbone and side-chain-centroid coordinates were used in reconstruction, or approximately 1.0 A when the C(alpha) and centroid coordinates were used.